Ginger Root highlights the hidden gems of his discography with three New York City concerts – and a hilarious game of Spin That Wheel.

Stream: “Only You” – Ginger Root

A night of city pop in the city that never sleeps.

Even if Google describes his genre as “soul indie,” Ginger Root’s discography and aesthetic are littered with welcome references to Japanese city pop, a genre popularized in the ‘80s. That’s especially true of songs like “Over the Hill” and “Nisemono.”

Some originals feel more Mac DeMarco/Boy Pablo-y, like “Weather.” There’s obviously the project’s biggest hit “Loretta,” which is an easily digestible indie funk pop. Through it all, Ginger Root is upbeat, intricate, and bursting with color.

Hot on the heels of opening for Japanese Breakfast, Ginger Root announced his fall tour, complete with three concerts in New York. What made these concerts unique, however, was how each setlist was designed.

“Tonight, no opener, we’re playing two back-to-back sets,” Ginger Root explained to the audience. “The first set is us scoring and playing the whole album of SHINBANGUMI cover to cover.”

A Japanese term meaning “new program” or “a new season of a show,” SHINBANGUMI tells the fictitious story of Ginger Root starting his own TV station. As a mini-movie, (or visual album if you’re a Beyoncé fan,) it encompasses “exactly what Ginger Root should sound and feel like.”

SHINBANGUMI - Ginger Root — SHINBANGUMI – Ginger Root

“In terms of instrumentation and musicality, it’s the first time that I felt very confident and comfortable with what everything should be comprised of,” Ginger Root shared via press release. “On the more personal side, I’m coming out of the last four years of writing, touring, and living as a different person; SHINBANGUMI is a platform to showcase my new self.”

Ginger Root projected the visual album as the band played. After a short intermission, the artist reappeared with a chance wheel. The remainder of the set was decided by spinning after each song.

The frontman explained that this is a different performance format than most concerts, which is true. It added an element of fan participation, as well as a cheeky reference to Wheel of Fortune and/or Japanese game shows.

Ginger Root 'SHINBANGUMI' © David Gutel — Ginger Root ‘SHINBANGUMI’ © David Gutel

Admittedly, a split set isn’t an entirely new concept. When DIIV did an Oshin Anniversary tour, they played that album beginning to end, took an intermission, and returned to the stage to play other hits.

For The 1975’s last tour, the band performed an “opening” set, composed predominantly of their newest album. After an interlude, they returned with a second set of fan-favorites. It isn’t a bad idea – it creates anticipation for the second half of a concert, when energy is typically waning.

Ginger Root’s wheel was full of fan-chosen tracks, which is exciting, but forgoes some of the storytelling that other bands rely on and build upon with their setlist. Part of the appeal of a setlist, or at least a skeleton of a setlist with some interchangeable songs, is creating seamless or surprising transitions.

Ginger Root 'SHINBANGUMI' © Cameron Lew — Ginger Root ‘SHINBANGUMI’ © Cameron Lew

For Ginger Root’s fans, though, this was a welcome change.

One attendee audibly gasped after seeing “Two Step” on the wheel. During a vote between “Le Château” and “Belleza,” people jumped and cheered for their preferred track.

Especially accounting for his headlining concert experience, the best part about Ginger Root is undoubtedly his energy. He truly makes listeners feel like they’re a part of something bigger – that it’s an interactive, personal experience. And with each night of the tour having a different setlist… it kind of is.

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